Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Spread over 44 acres in the suburbs of Brisbane, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the oldest and largest koala sanctuary in the world. * If you're wondering where the sanctuary takes its name from, look out for the huge hoop pine that's still standing at the ticket entrance. The story goes that that the single pine tree used to be a marker for guests visiting the sanctuary via the Brisbane River; they would moor their boats at the ‘lone pine’. * Inside Lone Pine Sanctuary, you'll meet koalas, kangaroos, Tasmanian devils, wombats, echidnas, platypus, and various species of reptiles. While the star of the show might be marsupials, there's also plenty of colourful Aussie bird life, like parrots, cockatoos, kookaburras, emus, and cassowaries. * You can feed the free-roaming kangaroos in the five-acre reserve, where more than 130 of the animals reside. You can also hold a koala for an extra fee that helps fund new enclosures, research projects, and delicious eucalyptus plantations.